Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Cook Burton an electric crane driver, born 1870 in Barrowby, Lincolnshire and his wife Elizabeth Hannah Burton (nee Harrison, married in 1893 in the Baptist Chapel, Ilkeston, Derbyshire) born 1872 in Ilkeston, Derbyshire. Harold Thomas was born in 1897 in Ilkeston, he had one sibling, a brother Charles, born 1896 in Ilkeston, in March 1901 the family home was at 66, Park Road, Ilkeston. In April 1911 Harold was employed as an office boy and was residing in the family home at Asfordby Hill, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, together with his father, a cast iron foundry driller, his mother and siblings, Charles, Frederick, born 1904 and Hilda May, born 1908, the latter two siblings were both born in Asfordby Hill, Melton Mowbray.
Harold attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War, with the Colours and in the Army Reserve.) on the 11th December 1915 in Melton Mowbray. He gave his present address as Eight Bells Yard, Nottingham Street, Melton Mowbray, his age as 18 years and 13 days and his trade or calling as stableman. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father, Thomas Cooke Burton of Eight Bells Yard, Nottingham Street, Melton Mowbray as his next of kin. He gave his religion as Wesleyan. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 2¾ inches in height and he had a chest measurement of between 31 and 34 inches. After attestation on the 11/12/15 in Melton Mowbray he was transferred as Private, service number 38129 to the Army Reserve. Mobilized on the 28/2/17. Posted to the Leicestershire Regiment Depot on the 28/2/17. Posted to the 12th Training Reserve Battalion and allotted service number TR/6/6381, on the 2/3/17. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 22/5/17. Disembarked on the 22/5/17. Transferred to the 6th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment, and allotted service number 40494, on the 17/6/17. Posted missing in action near Jussy, on the 22/3/18. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 11/12/15, 1 day. Army Reserve, 12/12/15 – 27/2/17, 1 year 78 days. Home Service, 28/2/17 – 22/5/17, 84 days. British Expeditionary Force, France 23/5/17 – 22/3/18, 304 days. Total service 2 years 102 days. He was awarded the British War and Victory medals. Harold’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 21 Mar-18 – CAMP JUSSY. 10.30 am. Battalion left CAILLOVEL 10.30 am en-bussed BETHANCOURT. Bivouacked at WOOD East of JUSSY-FAILLOVEL Road. Moved forward at 4.00 pm – 9.00 pm to take over switch line in front of LY FONTAINE on the right and GIBERCOURT on the left. 10.30 pm. Withdrew to left of ST. QUENTIN CANAL at LA MONTAGNE Bridge and took up a position at 5.30 am on Railway embankment about M.22.d in Brigade Reserve.
The War Diary records: 22 Mar-18 – IN THE LINE, SOUTH EAST OF JUSSY. The 7th BEDFORDSHIRE REGIMENT were on the right and the ROYAL FUSILIERS on the left. Bridge at LA MONTAGNE had to be blown up, but this was only partially successful. The Battalion were to hold itself in readiness to counter-attack in case the enemy crossed the canal. Enemy aircraft were very active during the afternoon and a heavy bombardment was made against our position, and the enemy made an unsuccessful attempt to cross the canal, but was repulsed. The line was consolidated, our sector extending from the bridge over the canal at M.23.a.8.9 to 200 yards South East of MONTAGNE BRIDGE.
The War Diary records: 23 Mar-18 – 7.30 am. The enemy attacked against the 7th BEDFORDSHIRE REGIMENT and simultaneously against the ROYAL FUSILIERS pushing back both flanks. We held on to our position and the 2 bridges which were the 2 most vulnerable points on the Brigade front and continued to do so until ordered by the Brigadier to withdraw about 11.30 am.
10.30 am. Reinforcements of STRATHCONA’S HORSE arrived, but ordered immediately to withdraw.
12.00 noon. The Battalion withdrew to BOIS DE FRIERES whence the enemy violently shelled us from REMIGNY and simultaneously enfilading us from West of FAILLOVEL.
3.00 pm. The Battalion withdrew through VILLEQUIER AUMONT and marched into billets at CAILLOVEL.
On Friday May 3rd 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – MORE MELTONIANS MISSING. – The following official notification from the No. 1 Infantry Record Office, Warley, dated April 30th, reached Mr. T. C. Burton, Eight Bells Inn, Nottingham-street, Melton Mowbray, on Wednesday afternoon: “Sir, - I regret to have to inform you that a report has been received from the War Office to the effect that No. 40494 Pte. Harold T. Burton, Northampton Regiment, was posted as missing on the 22nd March. The report that he is missing does not necessarily mean that he has been killed, as he may be a prisoner of war or temporarily separated from his regiment. Official reports that men are prisoners of war take some time to reach this country, and if he has been captured by the enemy it is probable that unofficial news will reach you first. In that case I am to ask you to forward any letter received at once to this office, and it will be returned to you as soon as possible. Should any further official news be received, it will be at once communicated to you. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, C. D. R. Sharp, for Officer in Charge of records.” As Mrs. Burton had not had any news of her son since March 20th she wrote to this officer, and in reply received the following letter, dated April 21st, from Sergt. Jackson: “Dear Madam, I sincerely regret I cannot give you any more information of your son 40494 Pte. Burton, T. H. He was last seen in a trench now held by the enemy, and is probably a prisoner of war. He was a good soldier, and was respected by all in his platoon. I trust you will hear from him personally.” Pte. Burton was 20 years of age last November, and joined up on February 29th, 1917, going out to France the following May. He was recently home on leave, returning to the front on February 21st. Before enlisting he worked at the local Remount Depot.